Corbella: Notley's remarks reflect the hearts of most Albertans about mosque attacks

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley at the Akram Jomaa Islamic Centre on Friday, March 15, 2019 off Barlow Trail in the city's northeast, remember the victims of shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand.Al Charest/Postmedia

There are times when politicians say, “I speak for all (fill in the blank) … Albertans, Canadians etc.”

They rarely do.

On Friday, however, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s words delivered to the congregation at the Akram Jomaa Islamic Centre in northeast Calgary really did. At least, that’s the hope. Sadly, there is some evidence online that a fringe group of Canadian haters were justifying the terrorist attack at two New Zealand mosques during mid-day prayers there.

“We are devastated to learn that 49 people were killed and many, many more injured, while they gathered to pray together. On behalf of all Albertans, I offer my condolences to everyone affected by this act of terror . . . and to all of you gathered here today, I want you to know, Albertans stand with you — I stand with you — and our hearts embrace you.”

During Friday prayers in New Zealand, a 28-year-old Australian Muslim-hating white supremacist is suspected of gunning down almost 100 people — 49 of whom have died with another 48 injured, some seriously, with the possibility more could perish from their wounds.

New Zealand police who arrested the alleged killer are combing through the 28-year-old suspect’s 74-page manifesto of hate on social media, where he identified himself as Brenton Tarrant from Australia and said he was avenging terrorist attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims.

For members of the mosque in Calgary, including Junaid Mahoon, president of the Islamic Centre of south Calgary and a spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Calgary, the murders of their Muslim brothers and sisters half a world away hits close to home.

“The community are very concerned about their brothers and sisters across the globe in New Zealand and the sentiments are, why hate, why again? And then solidarity,” from “different colours and faiths coming to show their support,” said Mahoon at the northeast mosque, which has in the past invited controversial speakers to speak there and hateful things have appeared on its website.

Hate must be rooted out and decried everywhere if this world is to become a better place, because hate begets hate.

Rushing past two Calgary police constables on hand to reassure the congregation, Rahil Tarique, 35, caught the midday prayers at the northeast mosque — the same time of the day when the gunman started shooting in New Zealand — and said he was devastated by the news.

“The only thing I knew of New Zealand was cricket and hobbits, so it’s a big shock.

“I’m from Bangladesh,” said the web developer at the University of Calgary, “and I know there were four or five casualties from Bangladesh which hurts, but any time people are targeted in their place of worship, it’s upsetting.”

* On Jan. 29, 2017, six worshippers at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City were murdered and 19 others were injured when Alexandre Bissonnette entered the place of worship and opened fire. Just last month — on Feb. 8 — the white supremacist was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 40 years, one of the stiffest sentences in recent Canadian history.

* White supremacist Dylann Storm Roof murdered nine African American worshippers and injured one at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015, in Charleston, S.C. He opened fire on the congregants — who included senior pastor and state senator Clementa C. Pinckney — all of whom warmly welcomed the hater into their Bible study before he shot them.

According to news reports, security officials in New Zealand and Australia did not have those who have been arrested in Friday’s mosque attacks on a watch list. Clearly, white supremacist organizations need to be closely monitored all around the world, as they are growing ever more deadly and, like Islamist terrorists, feed off of past terrorist acts that gain notoriety on the Internet.

The New Zealand suspect also posted photos online, including one showing a rifle magazine featuring Bissonnette’s name incorrectly spelled, written in white paint. The manifesto also praised Roof and Anders Breivik, who killed dozens of young people at a summer camp in Norway for that country’s left-leaning political party.

Meanwhile, within hours of the shootings in New Zealand, which last year only had 35 homicides in the entire country, hateful comments appeared on Canadian Facebook posts that in some cases celebrated the attack or justified it. Many of those posts have since been removed.

“We know there is hate in the world but we can never forget that love is stronger,” Notley said. “No one should feel unsafe because of where and how they worship. This is fundamental to who we are.

“Together,” added Notley, “we must continue the fight against racism, hate, intolerance and religious persecution of all forms, including Islamophobia.”

Here’s hoping for the day when we can truly say that the condemnation of hate speaks for everyone.

This Week's Flyers

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.